General Orientation, Jacksonville

"JAX" may be the official abbreviation for the city's international airport but it has also been embraced by locals as the city's nickname, much like "LA" or "NYC." Therefore, if you ask people how to get to JAX, don't be surprised if they say that you're already here! After all, the locals refer to the airport as JIA, not JAX. And, on this same note, if you hear someone refer to "Jax Beach," they are really talking about Jacksonville Beach.

Jacksonville has a variety of neighborhoods. A brief outline of each is below.

Arlington
Waterfront properties; borders are: St. Johns and the Intracoastal . Fort Caroline National Park, Jacksonville University, Jones College are here.

Beaches
Beach communities are: Atlantic Beach (entertainment and dining), Neptune Beach (residential), and Jacksonville Beach (commercial). (see www.visitjacksonvillebeaches.com for more info)

Clay County / Orange Park
South of the city on the west side of the St. Johns River; rural pastoral area. Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Penney Farms and Middleburg are here.

Mandarin
Primarily rural ; rich architectural history. Large estates are here.

Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach
North of Jacksonville; resort areas.

North Jacksonville
borders: 20th Street; county border; I-295; Atlantic Ocean. Vast area of waterways, housing developments, and attractions, like Anheuser Busch, Jacksonville Zoo, and Huguenot Park.

Ortega
borders: St. Johns River; Ortega River; Riverside on the south.
Small parks and residential area along the river give Ortega its charm. Wealthiest people live here.

Riverside and Avondale
Bordered by Highway 17 and St. Johns river, I-10 highway and the Ortega River. Historic residents on the west bank.

Fruit Cove & Switzerland
Switzerland and Fruit Cove on east bank of the St. Johns River. Bedroom community for Jacksonville.

Ponte Vedra Beach and Sawgrass
Northeast corner of St. Johns County. Apartment communities; sports headquarters for PGA and ATP.

Southside
Bordered by Arlington to the north and east, St. Johns County to the south and San Marco and I-95 to the west. More apartments and condominiums.

Westside
borders: I-10, Clay County, I-295, Baker County. Baldwin, Marietta, Maxville and Whitehouse townships are here.

Springfield
Entertainment, shopping and business district. Downtown borders are: St. John's River, Stadium District , I-95, and 1st Street. Springfield borders are: Hogan's Creek, The Railroad, and Boulevard Street.